Houzz Tour: Soft Tones Add Timeless Style to This City Flat
Period details are given room to shine thanks to an elegant palette and layers of subtle texture
Amanda Pollard
28 August 2022
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
The inner London location, beautiful period features and access to a roof terrace made this Victorian apartment a perfect first-time buy for the professional owner. Keen to stay in his new flat for a good few years, he approached designer Neha Modha of Studio Modha to help him do justice to the property’s architecture and turn the space into a comfortable home.
Flat at a Glance
Who lives here? A professional man in his early thirties
Location Angel, north London
Property A Victorian flat
Size Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Neha Modha of Studio Modha
The living area of the flat is upstairs, with a staircase leading to the roof terrace, while the bedrooms and bathrooms are downstairs. “There was originally a wall dividing the living room and galley kitchen,” Neha says. “It blocked out so much light, so we took it down and created an open-plan space.”
Pendant lights, John Lewis & Partners. Kitchen cabinets; sink, all Wren. Tap, Quooker.
Who lives here? A professional man in his early thirties
Location Angel, north London
Property A Victorian flat
Size Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
Designer Neha Modha of Studio Modha
The living area of the flat is upstairs, with a staircase leading to the roof terrace, while the bedrooms and bathrooms are downstairs. “There was originally a wall dividing the living room and galley kitchen,” Neha says. “It blocked out so much light, so we took it down and created an open-plan space.”
Pendant lights, John Lewis & Partners. Kitchen cabinets; sink, all Wren. Tap, Quooker.
While keen to modernise the flat, Neha’s client also wanted to highlight the period character of its architecture with soft, timeless colours and classic design. A Shaker kitchen in a green-blue shade fits well with this aesthetic.
“We combined the cabinets with a white Carrara quartz worktop,” Neha says. “We wanted to keep it simple next to the wooden floor and exposed ceiling joists. The white reflects light and brightens the space.”
Make the challenge of finding the right people for your project easier by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory for pros in your area.
“We combined the cabinets with a white Carrara quartz worktop,” Neha says. “We wanted to keep it simple next to the wooden floor and exposed ceiling joists. The white reflects light and brightens the space.”
Make the challenge of finding the right people for your project easier by searching the Houzz Professionals Directory for pros in your area.
The kitchen is packed with useful storage, including cupboards, pan drawers and a tall larder cabinet. Neha maximised space in the corner by installing a pull-out shelf within the cupboard.
You might also enjoy How to Choose a Kitchen Designer.
You might also enjoy How to Choose a Kitchen Designer.
The owner’s comfortable sofa is positioned opposite a bespoke TV unit. “We designed the cabinet and commissioned a joiner to make it,” Neha says. “We based it on an asymmetric design my client had seen and liked elsewhere.”
To ensure clear, unmuffled music and sound throughout the flat, Neha installed Sonos speakers.
Coffee table, Cult Furniture.
To ensure clear, unmuffled music and sound throughout the flat, Neha installed Sonos speakers.
Coffee table, Cult Furniture.
An industrial-style dining table behind the sofa is accompanied by a space-saving bench.
Dining table and bench; floor lamp, all John Lewis & Partners.
Dining table and bench; floor lamp, all John Lewis & Partners.
Shutters at the bedroom windows bring in more texture and add to the cosy feeling in the flat.
Neha chose a bed with a dark velvet upholstered headboard. “We wanted to give it a darker, richer tone,” she says.
Bed, Made.com. Walls painted in Light Blue, Farrow & Ball. Bed linen; cushions, all John Lewis & Partners. Carpet, Capital Flooring.
Neha chose a bed with a dark velvet upholstered headboard. “We wanted to give it a darker, richer tone,” she says.
Bed, Made.com. Walls painted in Light Blue, Farrow & Ball. Bed linen; cushions, all John Lewis & Partners. Carpet, Capital Flooring.
“One of the owner’s key points was that the flat shouldn’t be too contemporary,” Neha says. “He didn’t want a minimalist look, so colour and texture played a big part.”
We can see this in the main bedroom, with its muted colours and soft, carpeted floor. “The whole scheme is about layers and textures,” she says.
We can see this in the main bedroom, with its muted colours and soft, carpeted floor. “The whole scheme is about layers and textures,” she says.
There’s more texture in the adjoining bathroom, with its patterned floor and herringbone-tiled walls.
“It’s a tiny room, but we wanted to keep it as an en suite,” Neha says. She maximised the area with a small basin in traditional marble and a glass shelf that provides a surface for a toothbrush without encroaching on the space.
Mirror, Soho Home. Basin, Lusso Stone. Floor tiles, Mandarin Stone. Wall tiles, Parkside.
“It’s a tiny room, but we wanted to keep it as an en suite,” Neha says. She maximised the area with a small basin in traditional marble and a glass shelf that provides a surface for a toothbrush without encroaching on the space.
Mirror, Soho Home. Basin, Lusso Stone. Floor tiles, Mandarin Stone. Wall tiles, Parkside.
Another velvet headboard features in the second bedroom, this time in a rich green against a pink-grey wall.
The bed is positioned under the window, with space for just one bedside cabinet on the other side. Neha utilised a cavity behind the wall to install a recessed walnut shelf above the headboard. “It’s perfect for everyday items such as a clock and book, but still tucked away,” she says.
Bed; table lamp; bedside table, all Made.com.
The bed is positioned under the window, with space for just one bedside cabinet on the other side. Neha utilised a cavity behind the wall to install a recessed walnut shelf above the headboard. “It’s perfect for everyday items such as a clock and book, but still tucked away,” she says.
Bed; table lamp; bedside table, all Made.com.
The main bathroom is conveniently located next to the second bedroom. “It needed to be quite practical, with more storage than the en suite, so the owner could store additional items in here,” Neha says.
A soil pipe at the end of the bath was boxed in and Neha used the space in front for shelving.
Floor and wall tiles, Mandarin Stone.
A soil pipe at the end of the bath was boxed in and Neha used the space in front for shelving.
Floor and wall tiles, Mandarin Stone.
More shelves were installed alongside a wall-hung vanity unit and basin. An Art Deco mirror and wall lights complement classic tiles in a similar blue-green hue to the rest of the flat.
Asked how her client feels about the space now, Neha says he loves it and can see himself staying here for a long time.
Basin, Lusso Stone. Wall lights, John Lewis & Partners.
Tell us…
What do you like about Neha’s design of this contemporary yet classic apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Asked how her client feels about the space now, Neha says he loves it and can see himself staying here for a long time.
Basin, Lusso Stone. Wall lights, John Lewis & Partners.
Tell us…
What do you like about Neha’s design of this contemporary yet classic apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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What colour s the 2nd bedroom please?
It’s a beautifully styled home. I’m looking for ideas to help my son style his first apartment and love your colour schemes.
The carpet looks very beautiful, please could you name the carpet manufacture and the colour? Thank you !